Find Familiar Choice #29: Pseudodragon Variant (5E)

The elusive pseudodragon dwells in the quiet places of the world, making its home in the hollows of trees and small caves. With its red-brown scales, horns, and a maw filled with sharp teeth, a pseudodragon resembles a tiny red dragon but its disposition is playful.

Quiet and Defensive. Pseudodragons have little interest in other creatures, and they avoid them whenever possible. If it is attacked, a pseudodragon fights back using the poisonous stinger at the tip of its tail, one jab of which can put a creature into a catatonic state that can last for hours.

Draconic Familiars. Mages often seek out pseudodragons, whose agreeable disposition, telepathic ability, and resistance to magic make them superior familiars. Pseudodragons are selective when it comes to choosing companions, but they can sometimes be won over with gifts of food or treasure. When a pseudodragon finds an agreeable companion, it bonds with that person as long as it is treated fairly. A pseudodragon puts up with no ill treatment, and it abandons a manipulative or abusive companion without warning.

Language of Emotion. Pseudodragons can’t speak, but they communicate using a limited form of telepathy that allows them to share basic ideas such as hunger, curiosity, or affection. When it bonds with a companion, a pseudodragon can communicate what it sees and hears even over long distances.

A pseudodragon often vocalizes animal noises. A rasping purr indicates pleasure, while a hiss means unpleasant surprise. A bird-like chirping represents desire, and a growl always means anger or discontent.

Pseudodragon (familiar variant)
Tiny dragon, neutral good

Armor Class 13 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 7 (2d4 + 2)
Speed 15 ft., fly 60 ft.

STR
6 (-2)
DEX
15 (+2)
CON
13 (+1)
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
10 (+0)

Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4
Senses Blindsight 10 ft., Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 13
Languages Understands Common and Draconic but can't speak them
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)

Keen Senses. The pseudodragon has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight, hearing, or smell.

Magic Resistance. The pseudodragon has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Limited Telepathy. The pseudodragon can magically communicate simple ideas, emotions, and images telepathically with any creature within 100 feet of it that can understand a language.

Familiar. The pseudodragon can serve another creature as a familiar, forming a magic, telepathic bond with that willing companion. While the two are bonded, the companion can sense what the pseudodragon senses as long as they are within 1 mile of each other. While the pseudodragon is within 10 feet of its companion, the companion shares the pseudodragon’s Magic Resistance trait. At any time and for any reason, the pseudodragon can end its service as a familiar, ending the telepathic bond.

Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.

Sting. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 hour. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the target falls unconscious for the same duration, or until it takes damage or another creature uses an action to shake it awake.

[msbroomstick]

I want one for my character so bad! I'll call him cuddles, bring him tiny hats to wear, and probably never ever use him in combat. Finally a(n imaginary) pet who likes to do this silly cute stuff

[energyscholar]

You have a flat-out error in this video. Pseudodragon has Passive Perception of 18, not 13. RAW advantage to PER provides +5 to Passive Perception. 13+5 = 18 That's what the pseudodragon gets instead of invisibility.

[pinkdouche]

Lady Morgana is the best girl in my table.

[opus]

hey, I got a question :) first of all, great video, very informative! I was wondering about the "sense shared for one mile." My DM had objection to that, saying that my pseudodragon (named Jojo) would only be able to communicate emotions or general feelings (Jojo is up to a mile away and senses danger, I then also sense that Jojo is in danger). I was trying to vouch for a more literal meaning of "sense, " that every sight, scent, sound, all of that would be passed along to me directly, within reach of one mile. He argued that its telepathy is limited to 100 feet for any creature, which is true, but I would not be just any creature, I am the arcane trickster who summoned Jojo in the first place and we have a special bond! And would therefore share the senses and transmission of simple ideas, emotions, etc within a full mile. Do I have a case for this? Are there any precedents for that? Is there anything in the official rules I could point to to help my case? Because I want Jojo to be as useful in combat and role-play and exploration as he is cute, haha

Also, second question. It is explicitly said in many sources that familiars cannot attack in combat, though they can participate in other ways. Yet each source also mentions their "bite" and "sting" actions, as you do here. Is there ever a case where they can use those actions? And tangentially, would I be able to extract some of Jojo's sting venom? My arcane trickster is primarily range-based, using a short bow most rounds. It would be awesome to dip an arrow head in a little vial of Jojo venom before letting that sucker FLY. There would have to be a limit on it. Maybe Jojo only produces enough venom to coat one arrowhead per day, or something.

Thanks for all of your help! I appreciate it in advance! (You're entire channel is awesome btw, I really enjoy it)